Six Things to Consider Before You Leave Your Job

Even with a recession and a high unemployment rate, there are those who feel they have to make a job change. It could be job dissatisfaction, the need for more money, a job or industry that is obsolete, an unbearable work situation, or a better opportunity.

Before you leave your job, you should weigh the pros and cons. A job in this economy is a big plus all by itself. Unless you have another one lined up, you could be in for a long, dry period without a job, income or prospects. Here are some things to consider if you are thinking about leaving your job.

1. If it is an unbearable workplace or boss, see if you can get some time to talk over the situation with your boss, co-workers or human resources. Some situations arise from misunderstanding, unclear job responsibilities and performance expectations.
2. Sometimes you can be the problem—your work habits, skill levels or energy level may not be on par with your co-workers and can be the cause of the problem. Take a good honest look at yourself and, if you have a mentor you trust, ask her to give you some feedback on the situation.
3. Consider the “perks” of our job. Even at administrative levels, there are some benefits available to all employees. If you have been with the company long enough to qualify for tuition reimbursement, you may want to stay and go back to school or take some technical or computer courses to prepare yourself for the next level. You may be able to finish your degree or qualify for some technical certification valuable in your field or industry.
4. Take your vacation time and use it to explore your job options. Go on the vacation that you always wanted to take. Sometimes the stress of a job and life in general can make things seem a lot worse than they actually are. What you think is job dissatisfaction may just be fatigue, stress or boredom. Go hang-gliding, mountain climbing or scuba diving. Try something you haven’t done but always wanted to. You may come back refreshed with a new perspective and appreciation for your job.
5. Is there a way to make your job more interesting and challenging? Talk to your boss about taking on some new areas of responsibility. Can you start attending some of the staff meetings? Do some presentations? Do you have a special skill set that can be used to enhance your job and make it more interesting? Showing your are willing to learn and are flexible can be a big plus for you and your job.
6. Look at the job openings at your company. I was able to go from a secretarial job that I didn’t like to a management job in customer service because I applied and then convinced the hiring manager that I could do the job. I not only had a new job in a different division but I also became a manager, was able to travel to different hotels in my group and work with the hotel executive staff. It was a great boost for my confidence and my career as well.

Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for Administrativejobs.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing Alto II with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients discover what they love and spend their life on it. You can read more of her blogs at administrativejobsblog.com and view additional job postings on Nexxt.